Chang Kao Thai Cuisine

mpressive decorations, very beautiful. Visited 1pm after traveling from Melbourne for a Ditchfield Family Singers concert in Bradenton First Baptist Church. Server very attentive, thorough and quick. Came based on good Google reviews. Shrimp Pad Thai was good but not remarkable. The components blended together, but not individually distinguishable as in some outstanding recipes. Sorry, I do not make this dish, so cannot offer more detail. We enjoyed our visit.

Stopped in recently to check this place out. The vibe was cool right from the start—great décor, a solid theme, and the place looked clean and well-maintained. We were seated quickly, and the menus stood out: high-end look, very extensive (probably 80+ items), and really well put together. Unfortunately, that’s where things slowed down. The server—who I think may also be the owner—greeted us with a quick “I’ll be right with you,” but didn’t come back for about 10 minutes. When he finally did, we placed our drinks, food, and appetizer order all at once. The appetizer (spring rolls—fresh and very good) came out before our drinks, which we had ordered as bubble teas. After waiting another 10 minutes, I asked about them and was told he “didn’t have time to make them.” At that point, I just asked for water. Our entrées came out while we were still without drinks, so halfway through the meal we canceled them. The food itself, though, was excellent—large portions, cooked perfectly, and full of flavor. One note: I ordered medium spice, and it definitely had some kick to it. If you’re not into real heat, you might want to order a step down from what you think you can handle. When the place slowed down toward the end, the server asked if we still wanted the drinks, but we declined. It also took about 10 more minutes just to get the check. Overall: the food and cleanliness deserve five stars, but the service was some of the worst I’ve had in a long time. Maybe they were short-staffed or running lean that day, I don’t know. If the service matched the food, this would easily be a five-star spot. Still worth checking out for the flavors and portions—just be ready for slow or spotty service.